Strength and Power Notes August 2010
Just back from the Colorado Springs OTC where Mike Gattone organized a solid USA Weightlifting High Performance Coaching Seminar. About 40 US coaches took part, including fellow Olympic Coaches Jim Schmitz (’80 & ’88) and Roger Nielsen (’92 & ’08). Read more details in my weightlifting eBulletin.
Harvey Newton, Zygmunt Smalcerz, Bob Morris, and Mike Gattone
during a break at the High Performance Coaching Seminar.
We decided to cancel the Performance Keys program scheduled for Decatur, GA, as the number of early sign-ups was not sufficient to warrant the effort. I think I’ll move toward a “No late or on-sight sign-up” policy as I’m seeing in more and more organizations. Participants who wait for the last minute to commit, although they pay more, contribute to organizational hassles.
As announced last month, the home page at www.Newton-Sports.com now features a video analysis of lifting technique, using Dartfish. Initially the lifts are from the NSCA International Index Invitational, but there are dozens of local weightlifting meet examples waiting to be posted. Check ‘em out!
USA Weightlifting has finally come around to requiring a criminal background check for all non-athletes. This is a modern-day reality check that most other NGBs have had in place for some time. My buddy Kyle Pierce, EdD, director of USAW’s Development Center in Shreveport, LA, has asked for this for some time. There has been some grumbling over the topic, especially the overall tone in which the plan was presented, but for the most part I’ve not heard any serious opposition.
Off to Fort Bragg, NC this month for a USAW Level I course, which has maxed out at 30 registrants. The base has tremendous facilities, so I’m looking forward to working with this group for two days. Watch for the full report to follow next month.
September 11-12 finds me at Eglin AFB, FL for another Level I course, this time at Lightning CrossFit. Again, plenty of facilities and enthusiastic participants, as Florida’s Panhandle area continues to grow its interest in weightlifting. This part of the State has historically been more involved in powerlifting.
Speaking of the Panhandle, Gil Petruska, owner of The Razor’s Edge/CrossFit Pensacola, has formed the most recent USAW team in the Sunshine State. Gil, the enthusiastic leader who organized a Newton Sports clinic at his facility in 2009, is having me back for a Performance Keys program, October 23. Watch for lots of new weightlifting action to come from Gil and The Razor’s Edge! Register at http://www.newton-sports.com/public/coaching/camps-clinics-workshops.html.
The week before, October 16-17, colleague Doug Lane (CrossFit Amelia Island and Sandbox Weightlifting, another new FL team) hosts a USAW Level I course at which I will instruct. This is a great opportunity for coaches from GA and FL’s east coasts to get involved with USA Weightlifting.
That’s a busy schedule. Unfortunately, I’ll miss this year’s Joe Dube Classic, in Jacksonville, September 11. This big event, hosted by Jesse Reynolds, always gives Joe (USA’s last male World Champion-1969!) and me a chance to catch up. Joe was hitting his stride and breaking junior world records when I first started competing. We’ve spent a lot of time over the years discussing our favorite sport. This meet is a great tribute to Joe’s continued efforts to promote the sport.
Finally, I’m kicking around the idea of a training camp here in Florida. It’s preliminary at this stage, but please let me know your thoughts.